Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/120975 
Year of Publication: 
2015
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 9325
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
This paper assesses the existence and the extent of austerity‐oriented policies in Germany in the aftermath of the 2008‐9 recession. In contrast to the intensive phase of labour market and welfare state reforms in the early 2000s aimed at 'welfare readjustment', we do not see austerity policies in Germany, rather a continuation of the path that was adopted earlier. This can be explained by the economic conditions which were, and still are, much more favourable than in many other EU Member States. Most recently, we can identify a partial reregulation of the labour market, most notably the introduction of a national minimum wage, a potential increase in the regulation of non‐standard contracts and a reintroduction of early retirement for labour market insiders. These policies can be classified as 'welfare protectionism'.
Subjects: 
labour market reforms
Germany
austerity
welfare state retrenchment
JEL: 
J21
J26
J68
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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